Where do the Rangers go from here?

[Danarqhy]

The seemingly "perfect team" just can't get it done when it matters most. Florida completely smothered the life out of the Rags in this series who were probably lucky that it actually went to 6 games. The team core is aging but also pretty locked in at this point. Core is also simply not good enough even with some of the best goaltending in the entire league.

What do the Rags do after this? Run it back and hope Shesterking goes even more crazies in the playoffs or that Laf turns into the piece that puts them over? Trade Panarin/Zib and retool on the fly? Tear it down?

As good as the team is, they are also caught in no man's land of being too good to tear it all down IMO while also not being remotely good enough to win the SC.

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[tabness]

they will win when the nhl only counts legit goals

 

[Empoleon8771]

Their owner will write another strongly worded letter about the NHL not gifting them more calls.

 

[sattar18]

Trouba, Mika and to an extent Panarin’s contracts are major anchors… can’t get anywhere with 3 deadweight players in the playoffs.

 

[MikeyMike01]

I don’t see a presidents trophy team blowing it up, regardless of what they ‘should’ do.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

They had a hot goalie and some timely goals they just aren't there talent wise.. Older players but if Laf builds on this who knows.

 

[Kerberos]

The Rangers in the Conference final gave me flashbacks to watching the Leafs attempt to play playoff hockey in the 1st round.

 

[tarheelhockey]

IMO, Zibanejad as a 1C is a little weaker than you’d like for a deep playoff run. Right now we’re an Oilers win away from McDavid vs Barkov in the final. Last year it was Eichel playing some of the best hockey of his career. Before that, MacKinnon.

Trouble is, you can’t easily upgrade on a guy like that.

 

[Gnome17]

Theyre a good team. None of their guys are 35+, Mika, Panarin, Trochek etc still have lots in their tank, guys like Laf and Fox are coming into their prime, Shesterkin is good.
It takes several cracks at it to win, they got more experience this year and im sure theyll be back and dangerous next year.
Small tweaks, and right back at it.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Relocate to Kansas City?

 

[Whoot Whoot]

we need a Russian hypnotist actually

 

[TheNumber4]

Trade Panarin and Trouba. Find Canadian Leadership.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

Relocate to Kansas City?

This is actually a huge part of the Rangers' problem. They don't have to be good to make billions.

 

[Ezekial]

Igor makes 5.5 million for 1 more season and mostly everyone is returning. You run it back.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Need to replace zibenajad with a center with actual give a shit

 

[miscs75]

Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point

 

[Roomtemperature]

Rangers are what they have been since 2006. Lay and pray the goalie holds up while you try to sneak by with enough goals. They are playoff bubble team to good team most of those years with a great goalie. They never seem to learn how to have playoff players that can elevate beyond hoping their goalie bails them out. As a hater it's infuriating cause it could work out as it gives them a punchers chance

 

[Praetorian Caps]

 

[Rsswmu]

They actually have some decent forward prospects that play playoff style hockey, if they pan out. But what they really need is to totally remake their D core.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Relocate to Kansas City?

Don't you put that on us Kansas folk.

 

[ViD]

They just won the President’s trophy and were 2 wins away from the SCF

They’re just fine the way I see it

 

[Chet Manley]

The seemingly "perfect team" just can't get it done when it matters most. Florida completely smothered the life out of the Rags in this series who were probably lucky that it actually went to 6 games. The team core is aging but also pretty locked in at this point. Core is also simply not good enough even with some of the best goaltending in the entire league.

What do the Rags do after this? Run it back and hope Shesterking goes even more crazies in the playoffs or that Laf turns into the piece that puts them over? Trade Panarin/Zib and retool on the fly? Tear it down?

As good as the team is, they are also caught in no man's land of being too good to tear it all down IMO while also not being remotely good enough to win the SC.

They need a stud defender like Darnell Nurse.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Trade Zibananajad for an upgrade. Or try to sign McDavid next summer

 

[Peltz]

Trouba, Mika and to an extent Panarin’s contracts are major anchors… can’t got anywhere with 3 deadweight players in the playoffs.

It’s only 27 million of dead cap space. What’s the problem?

 

[DrandonBudinsky]

Rangers wasted Lundqvist’s stellar years in net. You’d think they’d get the memo not to do the same with Shesterkin’s. Your goalie can not score for you. They will finally need to address the elephant in the room of Zib/Kreider line and how maybe it isn’t a wing they’re missing afterall.